Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube admitted on Tuesday, he’s chatted with Mitch Marner about playing centre. While the move doesn’t appear to be imminent or even something Berube is strongly considering, the Leafs don’t have the depth up front to be able to move Marner off the wing.

This isn’t a case of the player not being capable. Marner is an elite defensive forward, who uses his smarts over his size, his speed over his strength, and his hockey awareness to ensure he’s able to turn being in the right position defensively into immediate offence. Even though he’s only 44% for his career in the faceoff dot, with more reps, he’d likely be able to figure out some tricks of the trade in due time. He’s that smart, he’s that good. Marner is fully willing and able to shift to down the middle, it’s what it would do to the Maple Leafs’ lineup, especially currently with all their injuries, that’s the worrisome part.

Calle Jarnkrok is out for months after undergoing groin and sports hernia surgery, Max Pacioretty was just moved to long-term injured reserve and isn’t an option anytime soon. Then there are the likes of Nick Robertson, who has one point in 16 games this year and Max Domi, who can’t seem to find a home in the lineup or a specific role Berube would like him to play. Domi also hasn’t scored a goal this season, so there’s that too. Pontus Holmberg hasn’t shown any qualities this season to be considered for the top six. While Steven Lorentz and Connor Dewar should and will be staples on the fourth line, they don’t have the offensive instincts or skillset to move up the lineup. The Leafs would create such a gaping hole at right wing that shifting Marner to centre would expose the lack of depth up front in their lineup.

For now, it doesn’t sound like anything is changing, at least for the time being. Matthews is dealing with ‘a thing’, but GM Brad Treliving did sound optimistic the team’s captain will be back sooner than later. John Tavares will continue to fill in as the Leafs’ first-line centre and rightfully so. The chemistry Tavares has built with Marner and Bobby McMann over the last couple of games is something Berube can and should be building off of and something he should be strongly considering on a full-time basis moving forward. The play here shouldn’t be moving Marner to centre, it should be ensuring that Tavares, Marner and McMann stay together as a line, even once everyone is healthy and has returned to the lineup.

Keeping this trio together means Matthew Knies plays alongside Matthews and Nylander, which gives Berube a very potent top six who can match up against any other top six in the league. It allows Domi to slide into the bottom six, where he can match up better against opponents, and can hopefully help facilitate some secondary scoring. Before March’s trade deadline, Treliving should be scrolling the trade market to find a 3C for the Stanley Cup Playoff run, but that’s a story for another day.

For now, let’s move forward with what we do know. This is the fact we know Marner is one of the best right wingers in the game, has been for quite some time, and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, anytime soon. Keep him on the wing, and sit back and let him cook. Yes, the Maple Leafs need another centre, even with one of their top prospects in Fraser Minten getting a look this week. Give Minten some run, let Matthews get healthy, and continue to build something special in McMann, Tavares and Marner.